New York Times bestselling author, Tessa Bailey, is revealing the cover to Too Hot to Handle, the first book in her new contemporary romance series, Romancing the Clarksons, releasing May 17, 2016. See below for the too hot cover, information on the book, and pre-order links.

SynopsisWhen Rita Clarkson’s Suburban takes its last breath on a New Mexico roadside, rescue roars up on a Harley in the form of smooth-talking honkey tonk owner, Jasper Ellis, a man as mysterious as he is charming.

Rita’s cross-country journey to New York City–with her three estranged siblings in tow–is only beginning, but now that Jasper has found Rita, his plans do not include her leaving.

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Author Tessa Bailey

About the AuthorTessa Bailey is originally from Carlsbad, California. The day after high school graduation, she packed her yearbook, ripped jeans and laptop, driving cross-country to New York City in under four days.

Her most valuable life experiences were learned thereafter while waitressing at K-Dees, a Manhattan pub owned by her uncle. Inside those four walls, she met her husband, best friend and discovered the magic of classic rock, managing to put herself through Kingsborough Community College and the English program at Pace University at the same time. Several stunted attempts to enter the work force as a journalist followed, but romance writing continued to demand her attention.

She now lives in Long Island, New York with her husband of eight years and four-year-old daughter. Although she is severely sleep-deprived, she is incredibly happy to be living her dream of writing about people falling in love.

Author Rita Branches is revealing the stunning cover her of new adult contemporary romance, Painting Sky, releasing April 25, 2016. See below for the gorgeous cover, information on the book, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.

People pleaser, Jane Skylar wants nothing more than to earn her art degree, start her life, and bask in the bliss of living with her boyfriend.

But things don’t always go as planned…

Struggling with her creative side, Jane finds herself in turmoil, often confiding in her roommate – another, more talented art student, Keith Hale. Keith just so happens to be her boyfriend’s older, brooding brother. After a devastating breakup, Jane turns to Keith for comfort. But when the lines blur between roommate and lover, Jane’s life becomes more complicated than ever before.

When Keith’s past comes back to haunt him, their lives all get turned upside down, forcing the truth to surface. Now Jane must fight for what she wants–even if it hurts everyone she loves.

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Painting Sky by Rita Branches (Full Cover)

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Author Rita Branches

About the AuthorRitaBranches is an independent YA (young adult) author who enjoys spending every free moment (when she´s not reading) writing emotional stories.

Welcome to the release blitz for Wolf Bite, the second book in the contemporary romance series, Wolf Cove, by Nina West. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway. To celebrate the release of Wolf Bite, you can pick up Wolf Bait, book 1 in the series, for free for a limited time!

SynopsisIsolated in the luxurious Wolf Cove Hotel in Alaska, Abbi Mitchell is thousands of miles away from her family and friends.

In the hands of a predator. Potentially.

After discovering condemning information about the mercurial man who controls her day-to-day work life and, now, her most intimate private life as well, Abbi’s not sure she can continue on with… whatever is going on between her and Henry Wolf. Especially when he’s about to be thrown into a fiery media circus ring, and she, along with her reputation, will undoubtedly get dragged into it with him.

But breaking things off with the Big Bad Wolf now likely means losing her job and her summer of freedom, and going back to the farm and her controlling mother.

She’s not doing that.

Abbi does have something to hold over Henry’s head. If he forces her hand. If she has the guts to do what amounts to blackmail. But will the all-powerful Henry Wolf concede, or will she finally feel his bite?

Wolf Bite is Book 2 in the Wolf Cove series and should be read after finishing Wolf Bait (Book 1).

I stifle the urge to hiss with panic as I fumble for it, the strap of my purse slipping off my shoulder in the process. It hits the floor with a soft thud. I dive for it, cursing under my breath as I root through the pocket with frantic hands, finding it and flipping the silence button on the side. Hoping the noise will go unnoticed.

I’m still on my knees with my head bowed when the door creaks open wider and Henry’s polished black shoes appear in front of me.

“I’ve gotta go. Call me when you’re in my office and I’ll give you the code to the safe,” Henry demands, his voice unnaturally calm as compared to a moment ago, though no less hostile.

I take my time collecting the few items that spilled from my purse while I decide what to do. What should I say? Do I play dumb? Do I say I just got here? Do I pretend I don’t know a thing, and smile and wait expectantly for him to kiss me?

Tell me to strip?

F*ck me on his desk? In his bed?

Even as appalled as I am with him right now, I’d be lying if I said the thought of having him touch me doesn’t spark heat between my thighs. He’s turned me into some sort of sex deviant. But I can’t just sit here on my knees as if I’m waiting for him to unzip his fly. I finally dare look up, in time to see his hand stretch out in front of him, palm out.

It could be considered a gentlemanly offer, and yet from Henry Wolf I hear the command.

Sliding my fingers over his calloused palm—he must have earned those splitting wood—I ease to my feet. I take a deep, calming breath before I let my gaze climb his firm, hard body, his charcoal designer suit as perfect and out of place in the wilds of Alaska as on any other day, before meeting his eyes. The cold, steely blue in them instantly creates knots in my stomach.

“You have a bad, bad habit of eavesdropping, Abigail,” he whispers.

He knows I hate being called Abigail, but now’s not the time to remind him of that. I clear my throat to avoid sounding weak and fearful. “I didn’t want to interrupt.”

“Liar.” His lip twitches with amusement, but it falls off so quickly. “What exactly did you hear?”

Here’s the moment of truth. Lie and smile, or confront him with what I know. Which is it?

SynopsisWhen life turns to hell, most people talk about running away. Abbi Mitchell actually does it. Determined to escape her humiliating heartbreak and her overbearing mother, Abbi takes a summer job at a resort in Alaska. It’s supposed to be four months of snow-capped mountains, peaceful wilderness, and figuring out if she should wait for her lifelong sweetheart to come back, as he has promised he’ll do.

Instead, it’s Henry Wolf.

Owner of the luxury hotel chain, Henry Wolf is cool and composed, successful with everything he touches, and undeniably beautiful. And for some reason Abbi can’t fathom, he wants her—the farm girl from small town, USA with no corporate experience—as his personal assistant.

Abbi scrambles to meet his professional demands while she battles her growing attraction to him. Physical feelings she shouldn’t have because he’s her boss, because she’s way out of her league with him, and because they’ll never be reciprocated.

Until they are.

Will Abbi be able to let go of herself—her values, her dreams, and her inhibitions—to give him all that he’s demanding of her?

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About the Author
Nina West lives in the city but spends her summers in the wilderness with her husband. She loves having a steaming cup of cocoa in one hand and a steamy story full of angst in the other.

Welcome to the book blitz forNora & Kettle, the first book in the young adult historical series, Paper Stars, by Lauren Nicolle Taylor. See below for for information on the book, pre-order links, an exclusive excerpt and details on her giveaway.

SynopsisWhat if Peter Pan was a homeless kid just trying to survive, and Wendy flew away for a really good reason?

Seventeen-year-old Kettle has had his share of adversity. As an orphaned Japanese American struggling to make a life in the aftermath of an event in history not often referred to—the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II and the removal of children from orphanages for having “one drop of Japanese blood in them”—things are finally looking up. He has his hideout in an abandoned subway tunnel, a job, and his gang of Lost Boys.

Desperate to run away, the world outside her oppressive brownstone calls to naïve, eighteen-year-old Nora—the privileged daughter of a controlling and violent civil rights lawyer who is building a compensation case for the interned Japanese Americans. But she is trapped, enduring abuse to protect her younger sister Frankie and wishing on the stars every night for things to change.

For months, they’ve lived side by side, their paths crossing yet never meeting. But when Nora is nearly killed and her sister taken away, their worlds collide as Kettle, grief stricken at the loss of a friend, angrily pulls Nora from her window.

In her honeyed eyes, Kettle sees sadness and suffering. In his, Nora sees the chance to take to the window and fly away.

Set in 1953, NORA AND KETTLE explores the collision of two teenagers facing extraordinary hardship. Their meeting is inevitable, devastating, and ultimately healing. Their stories, a collection of events, are each on their own harmless. But together, one after the other, they change the world.

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Excerpt #1“Keeps?” She swings around, hair hanging over her eyes and in her mouth. “Come here, let me show you something.” She shuffles closer, looking a little scared. I pull out a hairbrush from the bag I brought home last night. “This is a hairbrush.” She squints at it, waiting for it to do something. “It’s for your hair, so it’s not so, um, hard to manage…” She tips her head to the side, looking for all intents and purposes like a puppy about to have its first bath. She’s our first and only girl resident. “Come sit in front of me.” I pat the ground gently, and she slides backward. “Don’t be scared. I’m not going to hurt you,” I reassure, although I’m not one hundred percent sure that’s true. “Keeps, what did I say when you came to live here, when you became a King?”

“Dat I could stay as long as I wanted and dat you would keep me safe,” she replies warily.

I grip the brush firmly in my hand and gesture to the section of cold stone in front of my crossed legs. “Do you believe that’s true?”

She scrunches her eyes shut and says, “Yes.” Crawling over to sit in front of me, she turns her mound of thick, black hair my way.

I raise the brush to her head, place it in her hair, and make a liar of myself.

*****

The boys cover their ears to shield themselves from her caterwauling.

“Throw her back,” Krow mutters, scowling, which only makes her scream louder.

She bends her head back every time I run the brush through and screeches like I’m actually scalping her. The brush snags in the dirty clumps, and I can’t pull it through. I’ve said sorry about a hundred times but now that I’ve started, I feel like I need to finish it. She needs to look less like a street urchin and more like a child on her way to school if we’re going to remain inconspicuous.

On the hundredth and fiftieth scream, Kin finally storms over. He gets up in her face, and I think he’s going to tell her to shut up. It’s what I should have done, but I feel at a loss on how to deal with a ten-year-old girl who thinks I’m torturing her.

“Keeper, what would you like me to do? I can cut it all off or you can let us clean it up. Right now you look like a drowned rat wearing a dead cat toupee. Do you want to look like a drowned rat with a bad hairpiece?” Kin says.

She shakes her head and whimpers. Then she whispers, “I wanna look like that.” She points to the catalogue I’ve been teaching some of them to read from. A sweet girl with long brown hair in two plaits on either side of her head smiles thinly at us, her eyes round and blue, her ribbons frozen in mid-swing.

Both Kin and I stare at each other and gulp. Then Kin puffs out his chest, swears, and laughs. “If you can rescue women from burning buildings, together we can surely plait a ten-year-old girl’s hair.”

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Author Lauren Nicolle Taylor

About the AuthorLaurenNicolleTaylor lives in the lush Adelaide Hills. The daughter of a Malaysian nuclear physicist and an Australian scientist, she was expected to follow a science career path, attending Adelaide University and completing a Health Science degree with Honours in obstetrics and gynaecology.

She then worked in health research for a short time before having her first child. Due to their extensive health issues, Lauren spent her twenties as a full-time mother/carer to her three children. When her family life settled down, she turned to writing.

She is a 2014 Kindle Book Awards Semi-finalist and a USA Best Book Awards Finalist.

SynopsisThe most widely used and respected text in its field, Writing Fiction, 7e by novelists Janet Burroway and Elizabeth Stuckey-French guides the novice story writer from first inspiration to final revision by providing practical writing techniques and concrete examples. Written in a tone that is personal and non-prescriptive, the text encourages students to develop proficiency through each step of the writing process, offering an abundance of exercises designed to spur writing and creativity. The text also integrates diverse contemporary short stories in every chapter in the belief that the reading of inspiring fiction goes hand-in-hand with the writing of fresh and exciting stories.

A bestseller through six editions,Writing Fiction by novelists Janet Burroway and Elizabeth Stuckey-French explores the elements of fiction, providing practical writing techniques and concrete examples. Written in a tone that is personal and non-prescriptive, this book encourages writers to develop proficiency through each step of the writing process, offering an abundance of exercises designed to spur writing and creativity. The text Writing Fiction also integrates diverse contemporary short stories in every chapter in the belief that the reading of inspiring fiction goes hand-in-hand with the writing of fresh and exciting stories.

Thorough and practical discussions of all the major fictional elements offer readers a comprehensive guide to the craft of writing stories. Topics include freewriting, plot, style, characterization, dialogue, time, place, imagery, and point of view.

For novice writers looking to develop proficiency.

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My ReviewThis is a comprehensive book on craft that starts with the basics and works deeper with solid examples that drive the point home. With detailed chapters on the process of writing, showing vs. telling, and creating three-dimensional characters and settings, this may be the penultimate book for beginning writers. Even intermediate writers will find reminders about all the things we’re doing wrong that we knew were wrong, but forgot we were doing. Filled with vivid examples to illustrate every lesson, the book even has a few things for more seasoned writers.

New writers often have the hardest time grasping the concept of showing vs. telling, and this section in Writing Fiction is one of the best yet I’ve read, teaching the difference between the two with well-written examples perfectly re-written to ensure the lesson is learned. The section on characterization is exceptionally thorough, delving into great detail on what makes good characters and what makes great characters. All stories need good characters, but the best stories have great characters.

With about one-third examples and writing exercises and two-thirds instruction, I firmly believe this is the first book every aspiring fiction writer should pick up and study.

Bottom LineWriting Fiction is expensive, but worth every penny. This is the textbook every aspiring novelist needs to read.

About Janet Burroway
Janet Burroway is the author of seven novels including The Buzzards, Raw Silk (runner up for the national Book award), Opening Nights, and Cutting Stone; a volume of poetry,Material Goods; a collection of essays, Embalming Mom; and two children’s books, The Truck on the Track and The Giant Jam Sandwich. Her most recent plays, Medea With Child, Sweepstakes, Division of Property, and Parts of Speech, have received readings and productions in New York, London, San Francisco, Hollywood, and various regional theatres.

Her Writing Fiction is the most widely used creative writing text in America, and a multi-genre textbook, Imaginative Writing, appeared in 2002. A B.A. from Barnard College and M.A. from Cambridge University, England, she was Yale School of Drama RCA-NBC Fellow 1960-61, and is Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor Emerita at the Florida State University in Tallahassee.

Her new novel, The Revenge of the Radioactive Lady, is forthcoming from Doubleday in spring 2011. Her short stories have appeared in The Normal School, Narrative Magazine, The Atlantic Monthly, Gettysburg Review, Southern Review, Five Points, and The O’Henry Prize Stories 2005.

She was awarded a James Michener Fellowship and has won grants from the Howard Foundation, the Indiana Arts Foundation, and the Florida Arts Foundation. She teaches fiction writing at Florida State University.

About Ned Stuckey-FrenchNed Stuckey-French teaches at Florida State University and is book review editor of Fourth Genre: Explorations in Nonfiction.

He is the author of The American Essay in the American Century (University of Missouri Press, forthcoming May 2011), co-editor (with Carl Klaus) of Essayists on the Essay: Four Centuries of Commentary (University of Iowa Press, forthcoming fall 2011), and coauthor (with Janet Burroway and Elizabeth Stuckey-French) of Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft (Longman, 8th edition).

His articles and essays have appeared in journals and magazines such as In These Times, The Missouri Review, The Iowa Review, Walking Magazine, culture front, Pinch, Guernica, and American Literature, and have been listed three times among the notable essays of the year in Best American Essays.

Welcome to the book blitz forParasite, the third book in the young adult science fiction/post-apocalyptic series, The Domino Project, by K.T. Hann. See below for for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt and details on her giveaway.

SynopsisWith the Damascus closing in on the Exiled, Sai and Dom must put their grief and inner demons aside as they rush to free the people of the Protected Conglomerate from the influence of the psionic grid. Chipped and placed under house arrest with a guard, Bastian’s only hope lies in reaching his core to disrupt Deign’s ruthless plan. Intent on putting a stop to the Damascus and the GNW’s reign, Dom discovers the true extent of the parasite within.

Just when Sai thinks the Exiled have a chance, their greatest weapon turns on them.

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Excerpt #1Pieces of Iota’s devastation spread like breadcrumbs around its site. Flames still cling to odd pieces of cargo and hull, and a faint psionic shield wavers unsteadily, flickering in and out of effectiveness as the sun sets. A portion of the lowerhull teeters precariously under the shielding, as if a soft breeze could blow it over.

Dom brings Mele to a halt and steps out slowly. Rapidly switching his vision through infrared and thermal, he approaches the fading barrier, which appears to be shielding them from the fading rays of light, but could also be attuned for protection.

Behind a stack of rubble, much of which appears to be various appendages of Damascus soldiers, is a soft thermal glow. The shield wavers and blinks out as the final rays of the sun end in a dull red glimmer. Dom moves closer, pushing back the darkness that threatens to overtake him as panic works itself into knots in his brain. There’s no time for it now; he can’t let it control him. He rounds the final portion of rubble mixed with oddly melted adrium, devoid of its electricity, frozen into a rigid splashes of the metal, and steels himself

SynopsisAfter Sai’s newly awoken psionic power accidentally destroys her apartment complex, she’s thrown into an intensive training program. The only grades are pass or die.

Surviving means proving her continued existence isn’t a mistake–a task her new mentor, Bastian, takes personally. Her abilities place her in the GNW Enforcer division, which partners her with Domino 12, who is eerily human for an alien-parasite and psionic hybrid.

When her assassination duties are revealed, Sai understands the real reason for her training.

On a mission to dispatch a dangerous Exiled scientist, she uncovers truths she never thought possible.

Sai is unsure who to trust as her next mission might be her last, and a double agent seems to be manipulating both sides.

SynopsisAs Sai recovers from her life-threatening injuries, she struggles to piece together her damaged relationship with Dom.

He fights the parasite within, suddenly freed from the interference of the other Dominos in his head.

Inside Central, Bastian’s Shine dosing has become a dangerous dance. Enhanced security protocols and endless meetings have him on a tightrope, with little room to move without revealing himself.

When the GNW release the Damascus to begin their systemic hunt of the Exiled, the noose closes around the rebels and their allies.

If they can’t disable the threat, the Exiled won’t be the Damascus’ only agenda.

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Author K.T. Hanna

About the AuthorKT Hanna has a love for words so extreme, a single word can spark entire worlds.

Born in Australia, she met her husband in a computer game, moved to the U.S.A. and went into culture shock. Bonus? Not as many creatures specifically out to kill you.

When she’s not writing, she freelance edits for Chimera Editing, and chases her daughter, husband, corgi, and cat. No, she doesn’t sleep. She is entirely powered by the number 2, caffeine, and beef jerky.

Welcome to the blog tour for Her Adoring SEAL,the third book in the military/war romance series, Midnight Delta, by Caitlyn O’Leary.See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.

SynopsisHIDING IN FEAR
Beth Hildago feels shattered after the time she spent in the hands of the Mexican drug cartel. Now her life is on the line as corrupt authorities try to hunt her down.

FIERCE PROTECTOR
Jack Preston is a decorated Navy SEAL who’s family’s Texas Ranch is the perfect place for Beth to hide.

ON THE RUN
When Beth’s cover is blown, she is once again forced to run. This time Jack is not going to leave her side. But what happens when there is an enemy no one ever expected?

Can he keep her safe?

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Excerpt

Beth caught fire in his arms. Jack hadn’t expected she would burn so bright and so fast. He looked up at her face, and saw her biting her lip her face suffused with passion. He was scared, but it had never stopped him before, and it wasn’t going to stop him now. This was the most important mission of his life.

Her brow furrowed as she began to rock back and forth in his lap. It was clear to him what she needed. He continued to taste the sublime texture of her nipple, licking, savoring, and then he took the brown rose nub into his mouth. She arched into him with a sigh. He continued to hold her breast to his lips, while his other hand began a languid journey down her torso.

He knew Beth was unaware of her rocking, the way her legs had shifted and were now slightly spread apart. Her soft buttocks tortured his erection, and her legs attempted to clamp around his knee. He stroked further downwards, easing over the waistband of her Capri pants. She jerked.

Her hands were suddenly there, and he couldn’t help a second of disappointment he immediately tamped down. But her hands slid underneath his, and she was unbuttoning her trousers and lowering the zipper.

He considered, and knew he needed to take this opportunity to show her she could. She made a frustrated sound as the zipper caught.

“Shhhh, I’ve got it. They train us in complicated machinery.” She gave a little giggle. Just what he wanted. Her hands stayed on her zipper, as if not sure where to go.

“I love it when you touch my hair,” he coaxed.

“You do?” He looked at her and smiled. “Don’t you like it when I touch yours?”

“Yes.” She reached up put and her arms around his neck, her hands playing in his hair.

He kissed her, once again luxuriating in the taste of Beth Hidalgo.

She relaxed, and he unzipped her pants, easing his hand inside the front of her silky panties. Her curls were damp. He dipped down further, nudging her tender folds apart, finding her drenched. He brought some of that moisture upwards, and began to gently circle her engorged bud.

She broke off the kiss, and buried her head in the crook of his neck, panting. He continued his ministrations. She pushed against him, hard. Understanding her wordless command he increased his speed and pressure.

She sobbed into his neck. “I can’t.”

“You can. You were meant to fly in my arms.”

“I can’t, it won’t work.”

Jack heard the frustration in her voice, how she was working herself into a self-fulfilling prophecy. With his free hand he tilted her head up, and gave her a reassuring smile. He kissed her, plunging his tongue into her mouth. She sucked him inside. At the same moment he slid one finger inside her sheath. Her head arched backwards, the tendons in her neck rigid, and she let loose a silent scream.

****

He’d done it. She’d done it. She was shaking. Beth collapsed into the arms of the man she loved, shuddering in ecstasy. She felt his erection and wasn’t scared, she saw nothing but patience, satisfaction, and love in his eyes.

“Beth.”

“What?”

“Just Beth. Always and forever, it will be just Beth.”

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Author Caitlyn O’Leary

About the AuthorCaitlyn O’Leary is an avid reader, and considers herself a fan first and an author second. She reads a wide variety of genres, but finds herself going back to happily-ever-afters. Getting a chance to write, after years in corporate America is a dream come true. She hopes that her stories provide the kind of entertainment and escape that she has found from some of her favorite authors.

Her Series Include:

THE FOUND:
It’s a bit Paranormal, a bit Sci-Fi and 100% Action/Adventure. The characters have special abilities, that make them targets.

MIDNIGHT DELTA
This is focused on a group of Navy Seals. What makes them special is their bond to one another, and the women they come to love.

FATE HARBOR
This is the series that started her career, it is a Menage Series that takes place in Fate Harbor Washington. It focuses on a tight knit community who live and love and care for one another.

Today is release day for With the Band, the first book in the new adult contemporary romance series, With the Band by Natasha Preston. See below for details on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.

With the Band (With the Band #1) by Natasha Preston

Title: With the BandSeries: With the Band #1
Author: Natasha PrestonRelease Date: February 28, 2016Genre: New Adult Contemporary RomanceLinks: Goodreads |Amazon|Barnes & Noble

Kitt Daniels is lead singer in the hottest up-and-coming band, Filthy Sound.

Mark has mentored Filthy Sound from the beginning, seeing their potential, and now he’s supporting them on their first worldwide tour.

She’s off-limits.

He can’t help himself.

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ExcerptMy dad gave a lot of warnings about any member of Filthy Sound messing around with me, and he was very graphic as he went into the consequences if that were to happen. Kitt is quite clearly choosing to ignore that because, right now, he’s breaking Dad’s rules big time. Again.

Kitt’s Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows hard. “You’re different.”

He makes me feel different, too, like I’m not just another woman to mess around with, like I’m special. Sometimes. Then, there are many, many occasions when he makes me feel like I’m falling into a bottomless black hole.

At this moment, I feel like there’s no one else. I don’t want to hide my body away. He wants to see me, and I want him to as well.

“How am I different?” I ask.

“You’re not a game I’m playing, Tex.”

Well, that’s good to hear. If he were just pushing the limits with me because he had a problem with following the rules, I’d lose it.

“Then, what are you doing? Because this definitely wouldn’t be okay with my dad.”

“I’m not looking to strip for your dad. Right now, I only care about what you think…what you want.”

“You’re asking what I want?” Best to not go there. “Are you going to regret this in the morning, Kitt?”

“Regret? No. Will I feel guilty as hell when I look him in the eyes tomorrow? Yes. But remembering one major detail makes it easier.”

“What’s that?”

“You’re an adult, and you’ll never be a one-night stand.”

Bloody hell. My lungs deflate—in a good way.

If we did this, it’d be the start of something. It’s dangerous to think about more with him. It could end so badly for me. I should be smart and think it through. But I can’t. When I’m around him, there is no thinking, no logic, and no consequences. It’s a bad combination, and I know I should stop.

But with Kitt, I can never stop.

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Author Natasha Preston

About the AuthorUK native Natasha Preston grew up in small villages and towns.

She discovered her love of writing when she stumbled across an amateur writing site and uploaded her first story and hasn’t looked back since.

Welcome to the blog tour for From Sanctum With Love, the tenth book in the contemporary romantic suspense series, Masters and Mercenaries by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake. See below for information on the book, buy links, and an exclusive excerpt.

SynopsisPsychologist Kai Ferguson has had his eye on Kori Williamson for a long time. His assistant is everything he’s ever wanted in a partner—smart, caring, witty, and a bit of a masochist. More than a little, actually, but that’s the problem. Kori won’t admit her own desires. She’s afraid of him and what he has to offer. Luckily for her, helping patients face their fears is one of his specialties.

Kori knows she wants Kai. Her boss is the most amazing man she’s ever met. She’s also smart enough to stay away from him. Having been down this road before, she knows it only leads to heartache. She’s just found a place where she can belong. Another failed relationship is the last thing she needs. It’s better to guard her heart and let Kai think she’s frightened of his dark, dominant nature.

When Kai is recruited for an operation with McKay-Taggart, everything is turned upside down. Kai’s brother, international superstar Jared Johns, is in town and Kai must juggle his family issues along with a desperate hunt for a serial killer. The investigation throws Kori and Kai together, and they quickly discover the chemistry between them is undeniable. But even if their newfound love can survive his secrets and her lies, it may not be enough to save them both from a killer’s twisted obsession.

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Excerpt #1Kori heard some movement and then felt the whoosh of air caress her skin right before something thin and hard thwacked against her flesh. A gasp made her chest pulse as pure fire licked over her backside.

“This is a cane,” Kai explained. “It’s bamboo, nice and not too flexible. It leaves a mark if you apply enough force.” He brought it down on her again, this time on her thighs. Again, she struggled for breath. “Are you bored now, Kori?”

“No, Sir.” She barely managed to get the words out of her mouth.

“Excellent, then we’re making headway.” The cane came down again and again. “Where are we on the stoplight?”

“Green.” She didn’t even hesitate. The pain was doing its job, heating her up and making her soft. Each strike of the cane lit her up and then brought her back down, sinking deeper and deeper into that soft, fuzzy place of submission.

“Now we’re getting some truth.” He kept up his punishing pace. “She didn’t take her time trying to find a way out of what she didn’t want to say.”

“Why would she lie?” Jared asked.

“That’s a good question.” The blows continued, making her ache as Kai spoke. “I suspect she didn’t want anyone here to know that she’s a naughty masochist who can’t get off without a little bite of pain. Or a big one. She hasn’t accepted her nature. Or she has and expects that no one else will.”

“I accepted my nature a long time ago,” she managed to say.

The caning stopped and suddenly Kai’s boots were in view again. He dropped to one knee, that hard hand in her hair again. “Then tell me why.”

She couldn’t tell him. It was too much. “I’m yellow now, Kai. Don’t make me safe word out over an explanation I’m not ready to give.”

“Fine.” His hand moved from her hair down, skimming over her skin until his fingertips found her breast. Kai Ferguson was touching her breast. God, he was cupping her and she couldn’t breathe. “How about I put a scenario forth and you think about it for a few days. I think the reason you didn’t mention your utterly beautiful and sexy inclinations is me. You didn’t want me to know because you were perfectly aware that I’m the only one here who can possibly give you what you need. You knew that once I found out, I wouldn’t be able to help myself because you’re the only one who can do the same for me, baby. Do you know how fucking good I feel right now? How good this makes me feel?”

He rolled her nipple between his thumb and forefinger and twisted with a vicious bite that left her panting.

She squeezed her eyes closed because she couldn’t look at him, couldn’t see how beautiful he was. “It won’t work, Kai.”

Another nasty twist got her squirming. “It’s working right fucking now. Darling girl, your ass is up in the air and that means I can see how wet your pussy is. Tell me some other Dom here got you wet and ready.”

“You know I can’t.” She tugged at her restraints, but they didn’t move. The rope rubbed across her skin, keeping her here with him. She couldn’t run, and she had to admit she didn’t want to. She wanted this moment with him. Her pride might make her get up and stride away but every other part of her begged for what she’d denied herself for so long. He was the only man here who could give her what she needed. It wasn’t about who hit the hardest. Any of those other Doms could have adequately provided her with pain. She needed more. She needed connection, the ebb and flow of pain and pleasure coming from a man who was there with her.

Her dark shadow lover. Kai.

“I’m not the exhibitionist you are,” Kai admitted. “And that’s the only reason I’m not fucking you right now, but we’re going to have a long discussion in the morning about the way this needs to go. For tonight, I’m going to start the process that will allow you to remain friends with all those people you lied to. So you are going to give me everything I want. You’re going to cry for me. You’re going to let go and show them that you’ll cry for me.”

She shook her head. “You’re asking too much.”

“It’s cry or come, baby. One or the other, unless you want to find yourself in Big Tag’s office. Let me show him I can handle you.”

“I can’t. I haven’t done either in a very long time.” She hadn’t cried since leaving LA. She couldn’t. Wouldn’t. She hadn’t come either. Not a man-given orgasm. Her mind worked overtime. He wasn’t joking about getting called into Big Tag’s office. Whatever punishment Kai could come up with—nothing would touch Big Tag’s disapproval. They were all mad at her. It was enough to make her want to run away again.

Except it wasn’t that they wanted to see her humiliated. This punishment wasn’t about hurting her. It was about this group of people knowing that someone among them could take care of her. When she looked at it like that, it didn’t seem like punishment at all. It was about the Dominants giving a shit.

Morgan hadn’t cared when she’d lied to him. All he’d wanted was the next bit of work from her. After a while, he hadn’t cared about her finding subspace or her pent-up sexuality. He’d doled out the pain like it was bait for his trap. He would give her enough to ensure she stayed around and did what he needed her to do.

This wasn’t the same thing at all.

“I don’t want to cry in front of anyone, Kai.”

“Then let me show them you can let go in another way.”

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Author Lexi Blake

About the AuthorNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Lexi Blake, lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world.

She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart.

She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem..

I’m a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a cousin, a friend. I’m a reader, a writer, a music lover. I adore dancing in my kitchen like the white girl with no rhythm that I am. love to laugh and sing off-key at the top of my lungs. I used to love coffee until chemo ruined that for me, I still love wine, but no longer drink it. I’m still me, I just happen to also have cancer.

My daily routine is at the mercy of doctors’ appointments, lab work, tests, and procedures. My outings are subject to white blood counts, and my meals are driven by cravings and aversions. This is my life at the moment, but it is not who I am.

I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t scare me at times, but I’d also be lying if I said I let it dictate anything beyond what is absolutely necessary. I don’t dwell on it, and when I’m feeling good, like today, I forget my boob is trying to kill me.

SynopsisBryce Matthews doesn’t do the whole nice boyfriend thing. Chocolates and flowers—girls can forget all that. And he certainly doesn’t care about the gossip and rumors that follow him at school and around town. If anything, the talk amuses him. Bryce isn’t lacking in confidence. He knows himself and he knows his limits.

One of those hard limits is Madison Issac. Bryce can never have her, and he’s perfectly fine with that. Sometimes the fantasy is better than the reality anyway.

Madison Issac thought she was a pretty good judge of character. But she’s surprised at how gentle and comforting resident bad-boy and next-door neighbor Bryce Matthews is when we finds her crying in the park.

Maybe there’s more to Bryce than people think? So Madison begins to wonder. Can a guy like Bryce ever change his ways? Can a girl like Madison really be into a guy like Bryce?

With hearts and reputations on the line, this kind of love can be scandalous.

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My ReviewOn the surface this is a bad boy redeemed story, which is right up my alley, but deeper down, it’s more than that. Bryce isn’t your typical bad boy. He attracts trouble like nobody else, but he’s not the usual manwhore with the swagger and devil-may-care attitude. Bryce has lived next to Madison since they were kids and he despises her uptightness. Madison thinks Bryce is a little full of himself, but otherwise, has eyes only for his best friend, Graham. When Madison’s cousin comes to live with her after some family drama, Madison’s life gets turned upside down, and Bryce is the only one who seems to be able to see Sarah for who she really is.

Plot
For the most part, this is a straight-up teen romance, but there are a few fun subplots involving cousin Sarah, a love-triangle with Graham, and the inevitable trouble Bryce seems to keep getting into. The book is a fast read, with moments of humor and charm.

Characters
Madison and Bryce are great. They’re both easy to like with well-rounded backstories. I didn’t get much of a sense of any of the other characters though. Some were two-dimensional and others just weren’t fully fleshed out. But the story is about Madison and Bryce and they are both well done.

What Didn’t Work for Me:1. Inconsistencies. There were a few that I found more annoying than unable to overlook. Because we get dual points of view, we know what both main characters are thinking. In particular, Bryce makes one particular revelation that doesn’t sync with his earlier thoughts.

2. Emotional avoidance. There’s a pretty big twist in the middle that I didn’t see coming, but rather than show us the events as they unfolded, allowed us to feel the reaction of the affected character, it’s glossed over the event in retrospect. I felt it was a huge squandered opportunity.

3. Weak secondary characters. While the story is really about Madison and Bryce, the supporting characters weren’t fully developed. It wasn’t a huge problem for me, but I’ve read more books lately with really well-developed supporting roles that made the story more vivid.

What I Really Liked:1. Chemistry. The chemistry between Bryce and Madison is evident pretty early on. They have a love/hate relationship, but the book is titled, Bryce, so you know these two will end up together. I love my teen romances with lots of angst and these two had that to balance out all that lovely chemistry.

2. Madison. I love strong female leads and she is fantastic. She’s witty, smart, and doesn’t put up with anyone’s crap.

About the AuthorNatalie Decker is the Author of Rival Love. She loves oceans, sunsets, sand between her toes, and carefree days. Her imagination is always going, which some find odd. But she believes in seeing the world in a different light at all times. Her first passion for writing started at age twelve when she had to write a poem for English class. However, seventh grade wasn’t her favorite time and books were her source of comfort.

She took all college prep classes in High school, and attended the University of Akron. Although she studied Mathematics she never lost her passion for writing or her comfort in books. She’s a mean cook in the kitchen, loves her family and friends and her awesome dog infinity times infinity.

If she’s not writing, reading, traveling, hanging out with her family and friends, then she’s off having an adventure. Because Natalie believes in a saying: Your life is your own journey, so make it amazing!

Welcome to the book blitz for EDGE: A Young Adult/New Adult Paranormal Collection. This Limited Edition Paranormal Boxed Set features twenty of today’s most magical, sought-after titles by twenty New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling authors. All for just $0.99. Save over $50! Be sure to pre-order now!

Twenty of today’s favorite young adult and new adult authors have come together to bring you a collection packed with full-length, spellbinding reads sure to keep you keep you on the edge of your seat and up way past your bedtime!

But reader beware: These novels take everything to the edge–and not just the edge of your seat. With authors who aren’t afraid to push the boundaries, you get stories that take everything to limit, creating whimsical reads that teens can actually relate to and that adults can enjoy, too.

Save over $50! This set is only available at this price for a limited time, so scroll up and grab your copy before it’s gone!

New York Times Bestselling AuthorRiley J Ford, INTO YOU – What if you could know exactly what your friends are thinking? High school student Winter Reynolds can, but there’s a catch… She can only read people’s thoughts when she’s kissing them.

USA Today Bestselling AuthorsRebecca Hamilton, THE FOREVER GIRL – When a spell Sophia casts goes wrong, her personal demons get company, and the newcomers are dangerous.

JC Andrijeski, THE CULLING – Jet grew up free, hiding out on Earth after it was conquered by an alien species, but now she might learn about her alien overlords the hard way.

Apryl Baker, THE PROMISE – Armed with kick-ass shoes, can CJ save the town from a maniacal coven leader, still get Mr. Melt In Your Mouth Gorgeous, and somehow survive the darkness?

Angela Fristoe, WAKEN – If Janie hopes to survive the people of Everod, she’ll need to confront who and what she really is.

April Aasheim, THE GOOD GIRL’S GUIDE TO BECOMING A DEMON – What’s a nice girl to do when she develops horns…and a hunger?

Angel Lawson, WRAITH – Classmates think Jane Watt’s is a freak, but she knows her best friend, Evan is real and needs her, even if he’s dead.

Laxmi Hariharan, THE MANY LIVES OF RUBY IYER – To become herself, Ruby must turn her back on everything she ever knew.

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Excerpt #1 – Pretty Little Werewolf

“Whatever, Di. Help if you must, but don’t baby me.”

If Di heard her, she didn’t respond. Not that Giselle needed verbal confirmation; she turned back around and slammed her locker shut without looking, and then stumbled straight into something… someone… hard.

“Oh, sorry,” Giselle mumbled, trying to steady herself. She hadn’t caught the scent until after she looked up and saw who she’d almost knocked down – or, well, collided with. She couldn’t have knocked him down if she’d tried.

Hello, Boy!

He was magnificent. Was every guy in this school a male model? Towering over her at well above six foot, with muscles that went on for days, he was built like a statue with a hard jaw and stone-cold eyes to match. Though his looks were definitely worth paying attention to, it was his smell that had her standing dumbfounded. In all the years since she’d first experienced the change, she had never run into anyone like her. Now, standing here right in front of her was yet another wolf. She’d thought the lingering scent of wet earth might have been left in Di’s wake, but the longer he stood here, looking down at her, the stronger the smell got.

“Do you have a problem?” he asked with a voice that complemented that spectacular body of his. Smooth and deep. Seriously… what a package. Her wolf was definitely at attention and begging for a second to come to the surface for a closer inspection. It was all she could do not to wolf out right there in the hallway, with all the students around to see. Yeah. That would make for a great first impression.

Hiya, everyone… I’m the new girl, and… oh, yeah, and I’m a wolf, too. She might as well tape an old “Kick me” sign on her back; it would be less conspicuous.

While she was practically drooling where she stood, the strange boy, wolf, man –whatever he was – looked positively murderous. “Are you going to stand here all day, or can I get to my locker?”

So much for making a good first impression on him. “Sorry.” Giselle cleared her throat, wanting to say something smart, but for once, she didn’t have the words. She sidestepped sheepishly, and enjoyed the back view of him as he brushed past her to his own locker.

Damn. Nice butt.

Her wolf agreed, too. Wonder what his wolf looks like. I’ll show you mine if you show me yours! She couldn’t help but stare. How often did she run into other wolves? Male wolves.

Welcome to the blog tour for Dark Touch, a young adult dark fantasy romance/magical realism, by Aimee L. Salter. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and a couple of teasers.

SynopsisTully isn’t alone in her skin. Whenever she touches someone, they feel everything she feels.

All her ugliness. All her darkness. All her pain.

The only thing she wants is to be left alone–and to finally get out of her small Oregon town.

But then she meets Chris. He’s everything she’s not: Light. Trusting. Innocent. And he wants Tully.

Tully knows she should spare him the heartache of being with her.

But when he touches her, she’s not sure she’ll have the strength to push him away—until he learns about her dark past, and what really goes on in her ever decaying home.

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ExcerptI think it’s because the first time Chris saw me, I wasn’t me. He saw someone who didn’t exist. And by the time he figured that out, he didn’t care anymore.

He should have cared.

He cares now.

In the half-light of my pitiful bulb, everything looks gray. Dust motes hang in the air. My narrow bed is unmade, sheets tangled. The quilt my mom stitched when I was two hangs half-way off the mattress, stretched toward the door like it too would flee this room if it could. The rest is bare—the drawers, the closet door, the walls. Even the clothes strewn across the chair and rug are plain and dirty.

Somehow it’s never bothered me before. But with Chris here it does.

His eyes are closed, his burnished lashes quivering because he’s screwed so tight. Everything’s shaking under the pressure. The muscles in his jaw twitch. His hand is white-knuckled. His shoulders . . . oh, Lord, help me, those shoulders that have lifted things I can’t carry and swept me along too . . . they’re hunched. Knotted. Pressed in on themselves. On him. There’s so much of him that I feel small, yet he’s the place where I can breathe.

At least, he was.

My insides are in freefall because I did this to him. I shouldn’t have that power over him. I shouldn’t have that power over anyone. But he gave it to me and refused to take it back.

“Chris?” I barely whisper, but he flinches like I screamed. “It wasn’t about—”

“Don’t.” It’s a hard syllable. A word bitten off. He doesn’t even open his eyes. “I swear, Tully, if you say one word . . .” His fist becomes a hammer.

I am ugly. I am black inside, rotting and putrid. I have told him this. Many times. But tonight, finally, he believes me. As he turns on his heel and stumbles out the door, I can’t even call after him. Because when he gave me the power to turn him inside out, I gave him mine. And even though I knew this day would come, knew he was wrong about me, somehow he gave me hope.

As I watch him stagger into the hallway and disappear, that hope begins its death throes. It doesn’t die quietly. It screams and curses and shoves at me. And for the first time ever, I am grateful for my life, for my father, and for this house.

Because if it’s taught me anything, it’s how to take a blow.

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Author Aimee L. Salter

About the AuthorAimee L. Salter is the author of the gut-wrenching Every Ugly Word, a gripping and emotional story about the devastating consequences of bullying, and Dark Touch, an equally raw story about the violence that plays out behind closed doors and the all-consuming passion of first love.

Aimee lives in Southern Oregon with her husband and son where she writes made-up stories that tell the truth about life. She never stopped appreciating those moments in the dark when you say what you’re really thinking. And she’ll always ask you about the things you wish she wouldn’t.

She blogs for both writers and readers, and you can also find her on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook:

Ava quickly realizes that the camp is little more than a prison, warehousing and abusing kids for their parents’ money. And after spending a disturbing weekend completing the parent portion of treatment, Toby knows it too.

As Ava desperately searches for a way out of Mount Hope, she is faced with resurfacing memories of a family tragedy. She can no longer suppress the pain of what happened to her mother and sister eight years earlier in Thailand.

As father and daughter fight to get back to each other, the truth may irrevocably tear them apart.

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Praise for GirlSentAway—

“GirlSentAway is a sensitive, compulsively readable novel about the enduring devotion of a father and daughter, and the frightening, shadowy world of troubled teens.” —William Landay, author of Defending Jacob

With its young heroine and sensitive examination of adolescents in crisis, GirlSentAway would do well to find a teen audience. —Kirkus Reviews

A terrific and terrifying story. —Roxana Robinson, author of Cost and Sparta

A harrowing tale of family and adolescence–of the things parents do to keep their children whole and the terrible mistakes they make along the way. —Ivy Pochoda, author of Visitation Street

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Author Lynne Griffith

About the AuthorLynne Griffin is the author of the family-focused novels GirlSentAway, Sea Escape, and Life Without Summer, as well as the nonfiction titles, Let’s Talk About It: Adolescent Mental Health and Negotiation Generation—Take Back Your Parental Authority Without Punishment.

Lynne is a registered nurse and family counselor who teaches family studies at Wheelock College, and is the Social-Emotional Learning Specialist at an independent school in Boston. She teaches fiction writing at GrubStreet, an independent writing center in Boston and facilitates their program for soon-to-be published authors called Launch Lab.

Critics have noted that Lynne’s work is all heart—with “carefully crafted characters that ring heartbreakingly true” (Publisher’s Weekly, STARRED REVIEW, Life Without Summer), and that as a writer, Lynne tells her stories “with literary grace and a keen sense of human nature” (Carol Cassella, author of Oxygen), with the ability to “pluck the heartstrings” (Entertainment Weekly’s MUST READ LIST, Sea Escape).

Today is release day for Tied Bond, the fourth book in the contemporary romance series, The Holly Woods Files, by New York Times bestselling author, Emma Hart. See below for the cover, details on the book, buy links, and a couple of steamy teasers. If you haven’t started the series yet, book one is now available for free!

SynopsisHolly Woods is going to hell in a handbasket—but this time, Satanists aren’t to blame. Halloween is.

Nonna doesn’t understand why there are skeletons and demons everywhere. Mom is threatening to stitch a devil into Nonna’s pillowcase if she doesn’t shut up. Bek is bumbling over a date with Jason, the handsome FBI agent who conveniently got himself relocated to Austin, and I… Well. I’m considering running away to a town without the crazies.

Nothing new here.

Everything is going smoothly—too smoothly—and I can’t shake the feeling that something is about to happen. Drake insists I’m being paranoid… But when a body turns up at the Holly Woods Halloween party, we have a whole lot more than a murderer to worry about.

Because the prime suspect is his mom. And it’s my job to prove she’s innocent.

(Tied Bond is the fourth full-length book in the Holly Woods Files series and does not stand alone.)

SynopsisI’m an Italian-Texan woman in a family full of cops. I’m passionate and shoot before I think. You only f*ck with me if you’re stupid.

Photograph cheating spouses. Hand over the evidence. Cash my check.

That was my plan when I returned home to Holly Woods, Texas, and became a private investigator.

Finding the dead body in my dumpster? Yeah… Given the choice, I think I would have opted out of that little discovery, especially since all three of my brothers are cops. And my Italian grandmother is sure the reason I’m single is because of my job.

Of course, my connection to the victim is entirely coincidental. Until I’m hired by her husband to investigate her murder and shoved bang-smack into the path of Detective Drake Nash. My nemesis, a persistent pain in my ass, and one hell of a sexy son of a bitch.

Shame he still holds a grudge from that time I shot him in the foot twelve years ago, or we could have something. In another life.

So now all I have to do is avoid my nonna’s blind dates, try not to blackmail my brothers into giving me confidential police files, and absolutely do not point my gun at Drake Nash. Or kiss him. Or jump his bones.

All while I hunt down the killer.

Sounds totally simple—until a second body proves that sometimes things that start as coincidences don’t always end up that way…

(Twisted Bond is book one of the Holly Woods Files series and while it does not end in a cliffhanger, it is not a standalone.)

Until you take into account that my brother finally proposed to his girlfriend, so Nonna is on a warpath—and the crazy old bat has Cupid by the balls.

The upcoming mayoral elections has everyone running on full speed, and while I couldn’t give any less craps about the corrupt Holly Woods mayor’s office, a dead body in the middle of a campaign speech has me thrown right into the middle of it. The victim is close to the mayor, but all he cares about is minimizing the damage to his campaign, so he hires me to work alongside Drake to close the case as quickly as possible.

Bad news for our tentative relationship.

We disagree far more than we agree, but being at loggerheads won’t get this murder solved… Or deal with the arrival of someone from his past.

The mysteries behind the murder aren’t the only things unraveling, and despite being knee-deep in lies and corruption and bonds so tangled they’re almost indecipherable, I have to figure out if I’m willing to fight for Drake the way I do justice…

Now, if someone could tell his ex that… I don’t care if the summer fayre is coming to Holly Woods and she’s on the planning committee. What I do care about is sugar-filled food, bright lights, late nights… and danger.

The type that won’t come in the form of Nonna’s new cantankerous British parrot, Gio. (Please see the damage done to Mom’s new curtains.)

Unfortunately, when the danger comes, it comes in the form of something Holly Woods has never seen. The town is rocked to its core, and once again, I’m in danger. Only this time, it isn’t because of my clients—this time, I’m in danger because of who I am… Because of my heritage.

And despite the HWPD’s best efforts, the bodies keep on piling up.

Drake’s determined to protect me. I’m determined that I can do it myself. Danger. Mystery. Darkness. Malice. It’ll be a miracle if any of us make it out of this with guns unfired, cupcakes still frosted, and hearts intact…

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Author Emma Hart

About the AuthorBy day, New York Times and USA Today bestselling new adult author, Emma Hart, dons a cape and calls herself Super Mum to two beautiful little monsters. By night, she drops the cape, pours a glass of whatever she fancies – usually wine – and writes books.

Emma is working on Top Secret projects she will share with her followers and fans at every available opportunity. Naturally, all Top Secret projects involve a dashingly hot guy who likes to forget to wear a shirt, a sprinkling (or several) of hold-onto-your-panties hot scenes, and a whole lotta love.

She likes to be busy – unless busy involves doing the dishes, but that seems to be when all the ideas come to life.

Welcome to the blog tour for When I Make You Mine, the first book in the romantic comedy series, Richmond, by debut author, Rae Daniel. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.

When I Make You Mine (The Richmond Series #1) by Rae Daniel

Title: When I Make You MineSeries: The Richmond Series #1
Author: Rae DanielRelease Date: January 16, 2016Genre: Contemporary RomanceLinks: Goodreads |Amazon

SynopsisReeling from a recent break-up, Anne is surprised when she meets Jim, her handsome ER doctor. She’s been burned one too many times before, with the most recent relationship fail happening not even an hour before they meet! Catching her on-again-off-again now definitely-off-again boyfriend with her roommate, in her own living room, was definitely not how she planned on spending her Saturday.

She definitely didn’t plan on spending it in the ER either!

It’s not been Anne’s best day, to say the least!

Jim’s been looking for ‘The One’ for what seems like forever. His work hours limit his dating life and any women who come into the ER are either drunk out of their minds or are on enough drugs to make rock stars jealous. Getting involved with a patient is the last thing that he wants or needs.

Until Anne.

Will Jim and Anne get their happy ever after or does Ben, her best guy friend, have intentions of his own?

Sometimes, you have to close your eyes and listen to your heart in order to see the future.

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Excerpt #3“So how did things go with your follow-up visit?”

“Eh, it went okay.”

“Just okay? You’re not suffering from anything else and not telling me are you, ya little bitch? Because if you are I will rip you a new one for letting me sit here griping about my patients while you are dying of terminal cancer.”

“Jesus Ren, no. Settle the crazy train down. I am not dying from cancer and I like how you went from zero to sixty on that one.”

“Yeah well, you have a tendency to keep everyone at bay until you are past the point of no return, so excuse me for naturally jumping to the extreme.”

I was taken aback. I feel like I run my mouth day in and day out, never keeping anything hidden.

“How can you say that? I tell you everything!”

“Eventually you do, but it takes you a while, now dish. How was Mr. Big Cock?”

I totally forgot that I mentioned that he was my follow-up doctor. “Oh shit, hotter than ever. He called me on my BS.”

“What do you mean, ‘your BS’?”

“I mean that he called me on pushing too much as well as me stating that I was ‘fine’ when I was exhausted. He gave me a note to get me out of work for another week, and then…” I let the sentence drift off and played with my napkin a bit, unsure if I should tell her about the hand holding. I don’t want to keep things from her and I realized that I do hold things back.

“Uh-uh, don’t go retreating into your shell again, spill it.”

So much for keeping this to myself!

“Well, he sort of touched me.”

“Touched you? Like in your private place where Mommies and Daddies tell you never to let a stranger touch you?”

I laughed. “No, you sicko! He touched my hands, and sort of my face, and shoulder, and maybe my hands again.”

She pushed my shoulder with surprising force. “Shut up!”

I throw my hands up, “I swear, it was a ‘can’t keep his hands off me’ sort of thing but not in a weird way. Sort of like he had to touch me to get his point across.”

“And that point being, at the end of his dick?”

“God no, Renee! His point being that I needed to rest so exhaustion didn’t land me back in the hospital.”

“Well, that is a point, even though it’s not as exciting as the one at the end of his dick. How big do you think he is? Eight inches, nine? Holy shit, you are not saying anything. You’ve seen it haven’t you? It’s ten inches isn’t it?”

“Jesus Christ. Slow your roll, woman. I have not seen it, felt it, rubbed up against it, or licked it, for your information. I have no idea how large and in charge it is, but even if I did I wouldn’t tell you a damn thing.”

“Spoilsport.”

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Author Rae Daniel

About the AuthorBorn in the midwest, Rae Daniel has been telling stories her entire life. After earning her degree in History from Old Dominion University, she found her niche in the professional world as an analyst. In her analytical roll, she found that compiling her research into “stories” for her upper management team, gave her the confidence to start to write all the other stories that were running around in her head.

Rae is also the founder of GetYourSmutOn.com, a romance book review website. Within the first six months of operation she was being asked to write reviews for independent, USA Today, and New York Times best selling romance authors from around the world.

When she is not writing, she is living a charming life in North Carolina with her husband and two kids. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading and drinking wine. (PS, not necessarily in that order) 🙂

Author, Inger Iversen is revealing the cover to Sinners in the Dark, the second book in her new adult paranormal romance series, Running in the Dark, releasing March, 2016. See below for the cover, information on the book, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.

Sinners in the Dark (Running in the Dark #2) by Inger Iversen

About the BookTitle: Sinners in the DarkSeries: Running in the Dark #2Author: Inger IversenRelease Date: March, 2016Genre: New Adult Paranormal RomanceLinks:Goodreads

SynopsisWar is coming between vampires and humans, and the Vampire Nation will stop at nothing to eliminate their enemies.

Former assassin, Echo sees the Nation for what it is – a corrupt organization with its sights set on destroying the Sect, a group formed to eradicate all things vampire.

Now Echo is a Ghost, a traitor of the Vampire Nation, determined to build a new life with the Sect. But choices he’s made in the past might cost him the one person who could truly redeem his soul.

SynopsisHe is known only as Trace—because he leaves no trace of his victims behind.

A deadly Russian slayer, Trace’s life has always revolved around death. Death, and preventing humankind from learning about the legendary creatures of the night.

But now his position as a Watcher has become a prison, and dealing death for the Vampire Nation isn’t as prestigious as he once believed it to be.

College dropout Bessina Darrow has witnessed things she isn’t permitted to see, a simple case of wrong place at the wrong time putting her life in danger. When Bessina becomes his new mark, Trace is prepared to eliminate her—until he discovers a way out for them both.

Protecting Bessina means defying the leaders of the Nation, an act that has them both running for their lives.

The more Trace fights to disappear from danger, the more he unravels the secrets crafting his world—secrets he must unveil in order to finally save a life, instead of destroy it. Okay , I can do that.

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Author Inger Iversen

About the AuthorInger Iversen was born in 1982 to Anne and Kaii Iversen. She lives in Virginia Beach with her overweight lap cat, Max and her tree hugging boyfriend Joshua.

She spends 90 percent of her time in Barnes and Noble and the other ten pretending not to want to be in Barnes and Noble.

Welcome to the release blitz for Fighting Dirty, the fourth book in the contemporary romance, Ultimate Series by New York Times bestselling author, Lori Foster. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt,and details on her giveaway.

SynopsisHe’s the hottest MMA fighter in the game, but one woman is ready to try out a few steamy moves of her own in an unforgettable new novel from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster…

With the life he’s led and the muscles he’s gained, Armie Jacobson isn’t afraid of anything. Except maybe Merissa Colter’s effect on him. It’s not just that she’s his best friend’s little sister.

Fact is, she deserves better. Women pursue him for one night of pleasure, and that’s all he wants to offer. Until rescuing Merissa from a robbery leads to the most erotic encounter of his life.

Good girl meets bad boy. It’s a story that rarely ends well. But Merissa is taking matters into her own hands. No matter how he views himself, the Armie she knows is brave, honorable and completely loyal.

And as past demons and present-day danger collide, they’re both about to learn what’s truly worth fighting for…

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Excerpt
Merissa loved her brother. She’d always seen him as Superman, larger than life, a rock whenever she’d needed one. He was only a couple of years older than her, but for as long as she could remember he’d seemed grown-up.

Right now, Superman was in her kitchen, insisting on getting her a drink when all she really wanted was the time alone to let go. She knew if she fell apart in front of him, Cannon would never leave her.

He didn’t need to be a savior, not right now.

“Here.” He returned with a cola over ice, urging her to the couch. He smoothed back her hair, his gaze drawn to the bruise. Yes, it hurt. But the physical discomfort was nothing compared to the fear.

And here she’d promised herself, long ago, that she’d never again let herself be that type of victim.

But this fear—it was more about Armie standing in front of her, using himself as a shield. Risking his own life.

Willing to die.

“Take these.” Cannon handed her two aspirin.

She tried a teasing smile. “This feels so familiar.”

He stalled, then shook his head. “Don’t think about that.”

She couldn’t help herself. They’d lost their dad when she was only sixteen. As the owner of a neighborhood bar he’d resisted the extortion of local thugs, refusing to pay their demanded fees for “protection.” Late one night when he’d been closing, men had come in and beaten him to death.

Devastated but determined, their mom had nearly worked herself into her own grave trying to keep them afloat. Merissa could remember it all like yesterday. The goons wanted her mother to sell but she’d refused.

Until some of those goons had cornered Merissa on her way home from school.

“It’s all the same. You coddling me, being the strong one for both of us.”

“You were a kid then.”

“You’re only two years older than me,” she reminded him with a shoulder bump. “You were a kid then, too.”

“Maybe. I remember feeling so damned helpless.”

“Like you feel now?” She knew her brother, knew he wanted to make things right for her when that wasn’t his responsibility. “I’m not a kid anymore, Cannon. I can handle it.”

Her laugh sounded pitiful. But she still remembered how her mother had given in because of her. Cannon had found those men, and even at eighteen he’d made them pay with his fists—because of her.

She’d influenced him into becoming a fighter.

And it was because of her that he’d formed the neigh­

borhood watch. Everyone loved Cannon, but no one could love him more than she did.

“Superman,” she teased. “This time, I promise I can take care of myself.”

A slight knock on the door made her jump.

“It’s just Armie,” Cannon said with a squeeze to her shoulder. “I’ll let him in.”

Nodding, she again thought of the way Armie had stood in front of her, willing to block bullets if neces­sary.

Emotion welled up, choking her, killing her.

She quickly took the aspirin and tried to get herself together.

Armie peeked in cautiously, saw her on the couch and came in farther. “She okay?”

“Yes,” Merissa and Cannon said at the same time.

Armie gave a slight, tilted smile. “Hey, Stretch.” He came over to her, laid her keys on the coffee table, then winced at the darkening discoloration on her jaw.

“I bruise easily,” she explained. “By tomorrow it’s going to look worse, believe me. But it was just a slap. I doubt you guys would have even noticed.”

Armie crouched down in front of her. “Hey, you’re not a fighter, hon.”

She liked it when he called her something other than Stretch. Something affectionate. “No kidding.” She hadn’t fought at all; fear and the furious beating of her heart had kept her malleable and weak. It infu­riated her. “I may be big, but I lack muscle.” And guts.

“Tall,” Armie corrected. “You’re tall, but far from big. More like…”

“What?”

He thought about it. “Delicate.”

A genuine smile took her by surprise. So Armie Ja­cobson saw her as delicate? Huh.

Knowing she needed to get this over with, Merissa took another drink, then set her glass aside and stood.

Armie slowly did the same, his cautious gaze never leaving her. Cannon stood near him, strangely quiet. They both watched her as if expecting her to lose it at any second.

SynopsisIn the stunning prequel novella to her new mixed martial arts series, New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster brings together an elite fighter and the woman he’s determined to win.

Power. Brute strength. Unforgettable moves. It’s no wonder Harper Gates hasn’t been able to get her fling with Gage “Savage” Ringer out of her head. Months have passed since she laid eyes—or any other body parts—on him. Months without a word of contact… until, sidelined by injury, he comes back to town.

Staying focused on his training seemed like a smart move to Gage, even if he thought about Harper every day. Seeing her again only makes it clear how much is at stake. He’s got one night to earn back her trust.

One night to show her that behind his breathtaking skill and ripped body is a man who’ll give her everything she needs.

Don’t miss No Limits, the first novel in Lori Foster’s Ultimate series.

SynopsisA surprise inheritance reunites a mixed martial arts fighter with the woman he’s never forgotten in the first in a smoldering new series from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster…

Cannon Colter is quintessential hero material: chiseled jawline, shredded body—the works. He’s also the guy who rescued Yvette Sweeny from kidnappers, only to put an end to her romantic dreams.

These days, she’s older, smarter, determined to face whatever life throws her way. Even the prospect of sharing a house and business with Cannon.

Cannon knew Yvette wanted him three years ago. But she was young—and some things are worth waiting for. Thrown together by her grandfather’s legacy, he realizes how deep Yvette’s scars really go, and how much danger lurks in their quiet town.

As pent-up desire explodes between them, protecting her becomes the only fight that matters. And he’ll break all the rules to do it…

SynopsisShe’s playing hard to get…to win the MMA fighter of her ultimate fantasies in a sultry new novel from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster

Vanity Baker loves a good, clean match, but she’s not above playing a little dirty. She’s wanted Stack “The Wolf” Hannigan from day one. Seems as though the best way to corral the famously commitment-phobic fighter is to insist on keeping it casual. And her plan works—deliciously well—until Stack’s past steps out of the shadows.

Stack learned early to stay free of attachments. But with sexy, forthright Vanity, he’s the one always left wanting more. Then his troublemaking family comes back into the picture, threatening everything Stack cares about—Vanity included.

Suddenly he realizes they’re much more than friends with benefits. He’s ready to go to the mat for her…but will it be in time to protect the woman who’s tamed him for good?

“Foster brings her signature blend of heat and sweet to her addictive third Ultimate martial arts contemporary. Foster ably tosses out red herrings and also seamlessly lays the foundation for the next book in this series. This luscious tale will appeal to Foster’s legion of fans and attract new ones—even those who aren’t fans of professional fighting.” – Publishers Weekly

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About the AuthorSince first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and New York Times bestselling author.

Lori has published through a variety of houses, including Kensington, St. Martin’s, Harlequin, Silhouette, Samhain, and Berkley/Jove.

She is currently published with HQN. Visit her online at LoriFoster.com.

Entangled Teen and author, Sara Wolf, are unveiling the covers to her upcoming young adult contemporary romance series, The Lovely Vicious. See below for the intriguing covers, information on all three books, and pre-order links for book 1, Love Me Never, releasing April 5, 2016.

SynopsisPreviously published as Lovely Vicious, this fully revised and updated edition is full of romance, intrigue, and laugh-out-loud moments.

Don’t love your enemy. Declare war on him.

Seventeen-year-old Isis Blake hasn’t fallen in love in three years, nine weeks, and five days, and after what happened last time, she intends to keep it that way. Since then she’s lost eighty-five pounds, gotten four streaks of purple in her hair, and moved to Buttcrack-of-Nowhere, Ohio, to help her mom escape a bad relationship.

All the girls in her new school want one thing—Jack Hunter, the Ice Prince of East Summit High. Hot as an Armani ad, smart enough to get into Yale, and colder than the Arctic, Jack Hunter’s never gone out with anyone. Sure, people have seen him downtown with beautiful women, but he’s never given high school girls the time of day. Until Isis punches him in the face.

Jack’s met his match. Suddenly everything is a game.

The goal: Make the other beg for mercy.The game board: East Summit High.The reward: Something neither of them expected.

Synopsis
Previously published as Brutal Previous, this fully revised and updated edition is full of emotion, healing, and love.

Remember Me Forever coming May 2, 2017, but stay tuned for reveals of the synopsis and exclusive excerpts!

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Author Sara Wolf

About the AuthorSara Wolf is a twenty-something author who adores baking, screaming at her cats, and screaming at herself while she types hilarious things.

When she was a kid, she was too busy eating dirt to write her first terrible book. Twenty years later, she picked up a keyboard and started mashing her fists on it and created the monster known as the Lovely Vicious series.

She lives in San Diego with two cats, a crippling-yet-refreshing sense of self-doubt, and not enough fruit tarts ever.

Author Nazarea Andrews is unveiling the cover of her latest novel in The World Without End Series, Personal Apocalypse, releasing in March 21, 2016. See below for the cover, information on the book, a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR, and an exclusive excerpt.

Personal Apocalypse (The World Without End) by Nazarea Andrews

About the BookTitle: Personal ApocalypseSeries: The World Without EndAuthor: Nazarea AndrewsRelease Date: March 21, 2016Genre: New AdultDystopian/ZombiesLinks:Goodreads

SynopsisPersonal Apocalypse: A World Without End novel

Josiah grew up in a dying world. The Holdout survived, but when you are the son of Sylvia Cragen, you give up delusions early. He knew that they would die bloody–it wasn’t a matter of if. Only when.

Parker shouldn’t be alive. He should have died long before scouts from the Last Holdout rescued him. And he knows better than to believe that sailing away from the safety of the Holdout is a good idea.

Now, without the Holdout to protect them, all of his nightmares are coming true. Josiah is just crazy enough to believe that a fresh start is a good thing. But Parker has lived as prey, hunted by zombies and survivors before–and he knows that no one really survives.

In the wild, zombie claimed world outside the walls of safety, there is only the dead walking.

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ExcerptI was seven when I realized that the world wasn’t always broken. That the way we live isn’t how it’s always been.

I beat the shit out of the little asshole who broke that news to me, and then ran to the Doc’s. Because she was always good for the truth.

Even when the truth was ugly as fuck.

I learned three things that day and it stuck with me, over the eleven years since.

Dusty Pate was fucking bully.

Punching someone in the nose is a learned skill set.

And the truth is better than a lie. Even when it’s ugly.

That thought more than any resounds through me as I stand on the rocking deck of a nameless boat in the middle of a nameless ocean, staring at a nameless coast.

Not really. All of them have names. But none of them matter and there’s no one left alive to give a fuck, so nameless works just as well.

“what do you think?”

I tilt my head just a little as Parker comes up behind me, reaching over my shoulder for my binoculars. He fits there, as natural as breathing, as familiar as the gun on my hip and the knife strapped to my back.

“I think we don’t have a lot of choices.”

He mutters a curse and from below, it’s echoed in a shrill furious voice.

“Any change in the princess?” I ask, my voice a low drawl.

Parker doesn’t take the bait. He’s still watching the coast and I take a moment to drink him in.

He’s still pale, even after the time on the boat, a kind of creamy paleness that begs to be dirtied. His straight black hair hanging in his dark eyes, and he’s tense. Coiled like a spring that’s waiting to burst, full of nervous energy that has been forced down and contained.

“No sign,” he murmurs. “We should go soon.”

I nod.

The truth is—I don’t like unknowns. I can patrol up and down the south eastern seaboard, in and around the deadzone.

I’ve built my name on that. On my cold assessments and willingness to defend the Holdout.

But I hate walking in blind. And I hate it most when Parker is with me.

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Author Nazarea Andrews

About the AuthorNazarea Andrews is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read.

She loves chocolate and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids.

She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, and overgrown dog.